Brazil - 2009

You are unprepared for the immensity in area when you visit the Mato Grosso. Where once very recently there was endless jungle is now endless stretches of soybean and sugar cane fields. And of course devoid of native flora and fauna. When you do reach pockets of prime rain forest the wildlife is stunning in its profusion of color and sound. Unfortunately the Brazilians have no culture of national park set aside land but instead leave it to the ranchers, loggers, miners, and poachers to sort it all out.